50’s Prime Time Café is the quintessential Disney dining
experience. Great food, fun décor and theming, interactive cast members, and of
course, milkshakes. That’s right, milkshakes (more on those later).
As soon as
you walk through the doors, you’re in between Dad’s Living Room, which serves
as the waiting area, and Mom’s Kitchen, which is the main dining area. After
you’ve checked in and are waiting for your table, head on over to the Tune-In
Lounge and grab a beverage of your choice. Dad’s liquor cabinet is stocked with
just about anything you’re in the mood for. Glow Tini’s, draft beer, red,
white, and sparkling wines, and of course soft drinks. If you’re traveling
solo, or you don’t have an ADR for the restaurant, you can sit at the bar and
order right off the full menu, although reservations for this very popular
restaurant are always recommended!
You’ll know
your table is ready when you hear your named yelled out by the host/hostess. “Johnson
kids! – it’s time for dinner!” Once you make it to your table, you’ll meet your
server. Your server will most likely introduce themselves as your cousin, your
Aunt, or Uncle (remember, you’re eating in Mom’s kitchen). While you’re seated,
make sure to look around at some of the 50’s style knick knacks, theming, even
the black and white TV’s playing old sitcoms. A few things to remember when
dining in Mom’s kitchen: no elbows on the table, eat all of your veggies, and
don’t chew with your mouth open! Don’t let your server catch you breaking any
of the rules, because you could end up sitting in a corner, or singing for the
entire restaurant! If you enjoy fun interaction with the servers, you’ll really
get a kick out of the experience. On our last trip, I mentioned to my cousin
Emily (our server), that I needed a straw. About 3 minutes later, I had about
30 straws thrown in front of me.
You’re
probably wondering about the food, right? If you enjoy good ol’ fashioned
comfort food, you came to the right place. The entrees provide a generous
portion of food, but if you’re in the mood for stuffing yourself silly (which
is ok because you’re in Disney World), there are some nice options to get you
started. Appetizers include Crab Cake, Seafood Salad, Chicken Noodle Soup
(delicious), Onion Rings, and Iceberg Lettuce Wedge. The entrees consist of Dad’s
Traditional Meatloaf, Aunt Liz’s Golden Fried Chicken (my personal favorite),
Grandma’s Chicken Pot Pie, Mom’s Old Fashioned Pot Roast, the list goes on.
Most entrees run between $13 and $17. If you’re like me, and you aren’t a fan
of green beans, just stuff them in your napkin when your server isn’t looking.
It help makes more room for the milkshakes and dessert!
Probably my
favorite part about dining at the 50’s Prime Time Café are the milkshakes, and
the desserts. I could probably live on just the Peanut Butter & Jelly
Milkshake. That’s right…Peanut Butter & Jelly MILKSHAKE. Maybe I love ice
cream way too much, or Disney puts some kind of magic elixir in the milkshake.
Either way, the PB&J milkshakes are what legends are made of.
You’ll notice
that your dessert menus are old viewfinders. Some of my family’s favorites are
Dad’s Brownie Sundae, Apple Cobbler,
Cheesecake, and of course S’mores.
Probably the second greatest invention after
the Peanut Butter & Jelly milkshake is the one and only S’mores. They are
served hot with plenty of chocolate, and no sticky fingers. The serving is
definitely enough for two people to share…unless you’re like me and sharing isn’t
an option.
The 50’s
Prime Time Café is definitely a great choice if you enjoy comfort food, fun
interaction with cast members and guests, and great theming. Compared to other
options throughout Disney’s Hollywood Studios, 50’s Prime Time Café is also
very reasonably priced. Though it’s not 5 star quality cuisine, 50’s Prime Time
Café always provides a really fun family experience that you just can’t get
anywhere else.